Deciduous, low climbing, scrambling or trailing liane. Tendrils present at each stem node, branched, their apices finely pointed and nearly always lacking adhesive pads. Lvs palmate with (3)–5–(7) leaflets; petioles often reddish. Petiolules to c. 1.5 cm long. Lamina of leaflets very variable, mainly 2.5–10 × 1.5–5.5 cm, ovate, rhombic-ovate, or obovate, ± hairy below at first, especially on veins, becoming glabrous or glabrate, coarsely serrate, becoming coloured in autumn; base cuneate; apex acuminate. Infl. almost paniculate; cymes dichotomous with several branches; peduncles and pedicels dark reddish. Calyx cup-shaped, truncate, 0.5–1 mm long, often reddish. Petals 2.5–3.5 mm long, ± oblong, green. Stamens subequal to petals. Berry (5)–7–10 mm diam., red, becoming black with a bluish bloom; juice dark red.
[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]
Flowering: Nov.–Apr.